MSU is “green” in more ways than one. Aside from it being one-half of the school’s colors, it is also a way of life on campus in the form of many sustainability practices and initiatives.
One example of these initiatives is to promote bike riding as a mode of transportation. MSU earned a bronze medal for Bike Friendly University in the spring of 2011 from the League of American Cyclists, and boasts many bike lanes and bike paths on campus. According to campus police, there are more than 10,000 bikes registered on campus.
There also is a volunteer workshop sponsored by MSU Bikes that affords students and community members a chance to learn about bike maintenance first-hand. Volunteers that attend three workshops earn the privilege to bring their own bikes to work on with the help of an expert, and access to the vast array of tools.
The MSU Bike Project has been running for 10 years. It is volunteer-run and meets Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the lower level of Demonstration Hall.
Attendees participate for a variety of reasons. Laura Carter, a MSU employee, was interested in winterizing her bike for winter commuting. Alla Kedzierski, an MSU freshman from Grosse Pointe, was interested in learning the basics of bike mechanics because she said, “It is a good skill to have.”
MSU Bikes also was part of Be Spartan Green’s Sustainability Week, and they set up mobile stands throughout campus every day of the event and offered free bike service.
This was the first year for the mobile stands. When asked about the response, Tim Potter, full-time coordinator of MSU Bikes, said he was very pleased with the turnout.
Next year Potter hopes to serve an even greater number of students.
For information about the campus bike shop, their programs, or for tips on biking and bike safety, visit their website.